Efectos locales inducidos por el veneno de la serpiente coral Micrurus nigrocinctus en ratón blanco

The venom of the coral snake, Micrurus nigrocintus, from Costa Rica produces a myonecrotic effect in the white mouse. Experimental inoculation induces histological necrosis of the skeletal muscles, which becomes evident a few min after inoculation. This activity was confirmed by high levels of the enzyme creatinephosphokinase (CPK) which reach maximum levels 3 hr after inoculation, descending to near normal values at 24 hr. An infiltrate rich in polymorphonuclear neutrophils was present, reaching a maximum at 24–48 hr. One or two weeks after inoculation, the histological picture was of necrotic and regenerative tissue, fibroblasts and exudative cells of a mononuclear type. There were no vascular alterations nor hemorrhagic effects and the Kondo skin test in mice was negative. Furthermore, the venom produced little edema at the inoculation site and a weak proteolytic effect on casein.